Locomotive stoker



Dec 25' 1923..

E. PIERCE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed June 12. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec; 25, 1923.

E. PIERCE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed June 12. 1920 4 Sheets$heet 4 Patented Dec. 25, i9.

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nnwann rmnon, or wns'r BURLINGTON, IOWA.

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Application filed'June 12, 1920. Serial No. 388,406.

Still another object resides in the provision of a new and improved distributing mechanism'by which the coal may efliciently and automatically be distributed over the entire fuel bed or. may be concentrated at any point desirable.

These and other objects will be more fully set forth and described in the following specification and shown in the accompanyin drawings in whichigure 1 is a longitudinal .vertical section through the apparatus, the locomotive and tender structure being 7 illustrated in elevation.

Fig. "2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3' is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the distributing mechanism being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the distributing mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation on an enlarged scale of such mechanism viewed as in Fig. 3.

Fig. fi'is an enlarged detail elevation .of the cam.

Fig. 7 his a front elevation of a detail of one of the driving gears. x V

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-..8 of Fig. 7.

At 10 is indicated generally the cab of a locomotive in which is provided a firebox 11. Located behind the locomotive is the usual tender 12 having the coal space 12. At the bottom, of the coal space 12* is a hopper 13 having the slidable cover.

plates 13*, 13 etc. Located in this hopper is a rotatable shaft 14 having the screw conveyor flange 14, the shaft carrying a pinion 14" at one end-thereof and being suitably carrying the enlarged end 19",

journalled in such end, a removable cap 14 being provided to enclose the gear 14 At its forward end the conveyor 14 the tube 15, which is provided with the peripheral flange or shoulder 15. This tube is in alinement with the spout 16 of the tube 16 into which it delivers coal from the tender 12. To maintain proper contact with the spout 16 I provide a collar 17 slidably mounted u on the tube 15 and having the shoulder 1 as shown in Fig. 2, for exran is seated ample. A coiled spring is located about the tube 15 and extends between the shoulders 17 and 15, being under compression, and maintains the collar 17 in contact with the spout' 16, as shown in Fig. 2, connecting chains 18 being provided and extending between the collar 17 and the flange 15. The .purpose of this construction is to ensure a continuous. delivery conduit regardless of such variations in the distance between the .tender and the locomotive, as may take place, due to yielding of the draft gear or for other reasons. The chains 18 serve to prevent such extension of the collar 17 as would carry it beyond the tube 15, should the tender be uncoupled, for example. The portion of the collar 17 contacting with the tube 15 is rounded to provide for relative rotation between these two elements where the locomotive and tender are rounding a curve, for example.

.The spout 16 is formed with the. tube 16, as explained above, and in this tube is mounted the rotatable conveyor shaft 19 being of gradually increasing diameter at its delivery end, as indicated by numeral 19", spurs or teeth 19 also projectin from this as shown in igs. 2 and 3, for example. At its other end the shaft 19 is journalled in the plate 20 and also in the bearings 21 carried by the casing 22. Located in this casing is the pinion 23 mounted on the shaft 19 and also the beveled gear 24 carried on the shaft 19. This beveled gear 24 meshes with the second beveled gear 25 carried upon the shaft 26, which is connected by. a suitable universal joint 27 to the shaft 28 which is extensibly carried in the tube 29, being feathered therein by means of the spline or key 29*,this construction-permitting relative extension of the shaft 28 and tube 29, while ensuring transmission of rotation by the one to the conveyor flange 19, this shaft other. This rotation is transmitted to a third shaft through a universal joint 31, the shaft 30 being provided with a gear 32 in mesh with the pinion 14", located also in the casing 14, see Fig. 2. Located beneathtate the shaft 19. It will be apparent that the enlarged portion 19 of t e, shaft 19 and the teeth 19 will'crush or break unduly large pieces of coal being fed through the tube 16 so that the fuel is reduced to a size capable, of being easily handled by the distributing mechanism. The tube 16 delivers its contents into an upright inclined tube 40 with which it is-in communication at its delivery end, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted in this tube ,40 is a rotatable shaft 41 carrying the conveyor flange 41, the shaft 41 being further provided with a beveled gear 41 at its lower end in mesh with the beveled gear on the shaft 35. A casing 42 surrounds these beveled gears and carries a step bearing 42 upon which is supported the shaft 41. At its upper end this shaft 41 is provided with a beveled gear 41 in mesh with a second beveled gear 42 attached to the shaft 43.

The tube 40 delivers its contents through the opening 40 into the casing member 45, which is provided with the aperture 45 therethrough terminating in the discharge spout 45". Surrounding and spaced from the spout 45 is the nozzle member curved downwardly slightly atvitsdistributing end a and projectinginto the fire-box through the opening 51. This nozzle member is shown as formed in two parts, see Fig. 1,

and is provided with a rounded or balledportion 50 at it rear extremity, this portion being socketed in the partial sleeve 52 carried by the casing 45. A reciprocating plate 55 1s provided having an aperture to accommodate the nozzle 50, this plate serving to close the aperture 51, see Fig. 1. At its upper end the plate is provided with the overlying angle portion or arm 55 resting u on the cam 56 carried byJthe shaft 57, w ich in turn carries the beveled gear 58 in mesh with the beveled gear 59 on the shaft 43. Rotation of the shaft 57 will result in the vertical reciprocation of plate 55 through the medium of cam 56. This cam is formed in three portions, see Fig. 6, to provide for varying lift, it being merely necesmasses sary to shift the arm'55 from one cam to the other by shifting the cam to vary the lift, as may be obvious. The shaft 57 is journalled at one extremity in the bracket 58 and adjacent its other extremity in the bracket 59 these brackets being suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the casing structure 45. In the actuation of plate 50 it'will be apparent that the cam 56 will serve to raise the same and thereby the nozzle 50 while the weight of these elements will serve to drop them and keep the arm 55 in contact with the cam 56. When it is desired to'shift the cam 56, to change the portion in contact with the arm 55, the shaft 57 is shifted through the medium of a pivoted lever 61, pivoted at 61, and having handle 61 coacting with a 1 gear 58, which is chambered on one side as indicated by numeral 58. A ratchet 58 is centrally 'journalled in the ar 58 and a pawl 58, pivoted at 58 to ti: gear 58, coacts with such ratchet 58". The shaft 57 is suitably splined by the spline 58 to the ratchet 58 to be rotated therewith invone di- 'rection. The purpose of this mechanism is to permit the shaft 57 to rotate independently'of the gear 58 when it is travelling at a higher rate of rotation. This is especially meritorious in that it permits the nozzle to drop to its lowermost position quickly after the arm 55 has travelled over the peak of the cam 56, which ensures'delivery of sufficient coal to the rear end of the fire-box.

. At one side of the rear end of the nozzle 50 is provided an upwardly extending arm 50*, the sleeve 52 at that side being cut away to accommodate such arm. Socketed in the upper end of the arm 50" is. the depending stem of the head 70 which is ro-' tatablysecured to the arm 50 by means of the stud 70, see Fig. 5. A link 71 has its bent end seeuredi'n a suitable aperture in the head 70 and is connected by a limited ball and socket joint 71 to the ends of eccentric strap 72, which surrounds eccentric 73. This ball and socket joint is constructed to permit such forward and back movement as results from the rise and fall of the head 70 and link 71 with the nozzle 50 while serving to transmit to and' fro motion through the head 70 to the arm 50 from eccentric 73 andstrap 72. The eccentric 73 is carried upon the shaft 43, see Fig. 1, for example, and rotates therewith. This mech- An inspection opening aerasee ,anism serves to give a partial oscillation to the nozzle 50 which, in conjunction with the vertical reciprocation and as a result of the downwardly bent construction of the nozzle 50, results in such motion being transmitted to the nozzle as'Will distribute the coal over the entire bed of the fire-box.

To deliver the coal at suflicient speed through the nozzle 50 I provide a plurality of steam jets 75 regulablel b means of the adjusting valves 7-5, steam heing delivered thereto through the pipe 7 6, or the like, controlled by means of the valve 76, see Fig. 3. 45* is provided in the casing 45 and a hinged door 77v provided at the outside thereof. To permit delivery of fuel, should the conveying mechanism break down, I provide an inlet opening 45 through the casing 4.5 the cover plate 7 9 being normally secured thereover.

In the operation of my mechanism, coalhaving been crushed and delivered by the conveying mechanism to the casing spout 45", the same will be forced rapidly therethrough into the nozzle 50 by steam jets and the combined vertical rotatory motion of the nozzle 50 will result in the distribution of the coal over the fire-box bed. Shifting of the shaft 57 will result in throwing into ac tuation any one of the portions of-cam 56 to vary the .throw of the nozzle. Sufficient lateral play in the universal joint'fil is provided'to permit changing of the end of the link 71 to any one of the holes in the head to thereb vary the delivery of the nozzle 50, as will be obvious. It will be under-' stood that varying conditions will require occasional regulation and adjustment of the fuel delivery and I have accordingly provided for the regulation of the path of movement of the nozzle.

My invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and improvements and I do not wish to be restricted to the forms shown except as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In mechanism of theclass described a nozzle member, means to reciprocate said nozzle, said means comprisingfa reciprocable plate, and a multiple cam operatively connected to said plate and shiftable to vary the reciprocatory movements thereof.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a nozzle, means to reciprocate said nozzle, said means comprising an arm in operative engagement therewith, a rotatable shaft, a cam carried thereby contacting with said arm, a drivin gear, and means to operatively connect sald gear to said shaft, said last=named means comprising a pawl and ratchet.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a casing, a nozzle movably secured therein, means, for reciprocating said, nozzle, said means including a rotatablecam and a member loosely contacting therewith and conrality of conveyor tubes,

. contacting with said a reciprocable element contacting with and depending from said cam, said element loosely embracing said nozzle in such wise that the latter is oscillated upon actuation of said cam.

5'. In mechanism of the class described,

a power source, a shaft driven thereby, a plurality of conveyor tubes, conveying mechanlsm therein, means for driving said mechanism from said shaft, a casing communicating with one of said tubes, a distributing nozzle pivotally associated there-,

with, a second shaft above said casing,

' means for driving the same .from said conand means operated by veying mechanism,

said second shaft for rocking said nozzle.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a

power source, a shaft driven thereby, a plurality of conveyor tubes, conveylng mechanism therein, means for driving said mecha msm from said shaft, a casing communieating with one of said tubes, a distributing nozzle pivotally associated therewith, a second shaft above said casing, means for driving the same from nism, a cam carried by said second shaft, and an arm attached to said nozzle and loosely contacting with said cam whereby upon rotation of said shaft said nozzle will be alternately raised and lowered the latter motion being effected by gravity.

7 In mechanism of the class described, a power source, a shaft driven thereby, a pluconveying mechanism therein, means for driving said mechanism from said shaft, a casing communicatingwith one of said tubes, a distributing nozzle pivotally associated therewith, a second shaft above said casing, means for driving the same from said conveying nism, a cam carried by said second shaft,

said conveying mechamechaan arm' attached to said nozzle and loosely cam for reciprocating said nozzle, a second arm attached to said nozzle, and means associated with the said second shaft driving'gneans and connected to said tsecond arm for oscillating said nozzle.

8. Inmechanismof the class'described, a

power' source, a shaft driven thereby, a plurality of conveyor tubes, conveyin mechanism therein, means for driving sai mechanism from said shaft, a casing communicating with one of said tubes, a distributing nozzle pivotally associated therewith,

a second shaft above said casing, a third shaft providing a driving connection between said conveying mechanism and-said secondshaft, gear wheels carried by said second and third shafts respectively, and

means for shifting one of said gear wheels torender said driving connection operative or inoperative.

9. In mechanism of the class described, a power source, a shaft driven thereby, a plurality of conveyor tubes, conveying mechanism therein, means for driving said mechanism from said shaft,'a casing communicating with one of said tubes, a distributing nozzle pivotally associated therewith, a second shaft above said casing, a third shaft providing a driving connection between said conveying mechanism and said second shaft, gear wheels carried by said second and third shafts respectively, means for shifting one of said gear Wheels to render said driving connection operative or inoperative, and means associated with said second and third shafts respectively for reciprocating and oscillating said nozzle.

10. Inf'mechanism of the class described, a. pivotally arranged distributing nozzle, and means for rockingthe latter, said means comprising a rotatable shaft, a cam carried thereby and an arm attached to said nozzle and resting loosely on said cam in such wise that gravity will efi'ect the down movement thereof.

' 11. In mechanism of the class described, a pivotally arranged distributing nozzle, and means for rocking the latter, said means comprising a rotatable shaft, a cam carried thereby and an arm attached to said nozzle and resting loosely on said cam in such wise that gravity will eflect the down movement thereof, a gear wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, means for driving said gear Wheel and means for operatively connecting said gear wheel to said shaft, said last named means being such as to provide for independent rotation of said parts .to thereby permit of a quick return of said nozzle after each elevation thereof.

12. In mechanism of the class described, a pivotally arranged distributing nozzle, and means for rocking the latter, said means comprising a rotatable shaft, a cam carried thereby and an arm attached to said nozzle and resting loosely on said cam in such wise that gravity will effect the down movement thereof, a gear wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, means for driving .said gear wheel and means for operatively connectin said gear wheel to said shaft, said last name means being such as to provide for independent rotation of said parts to thereby permit of a quick return of said nozzle after each elevation thereof, said means comprising a pawl and ratchet. I

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

' EDWARD PIERCE. 

